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Carnell Lake Needs To Be Our Next DC

I know everyone keeps saying Butler's the next in line, but Lake is the best coach on our D and our DBs carrying the load last year without Troy and adding Allen as a starter after what he had done to date.

Today, he was asked by Ovi (I mean a reporter) with Lebeau's system being so complex, how can you possibly work a rookie into this system?

"I think the biggest challenge is really for me to communicate as simply as possible as I can to all of our defensive backs. Thatís my job. My job is to get him ready. I think since Iíve been here, going on my third year, it hasnít really been that much of an issue. We got Cortez ready his first year. Keenan [Lewis] was struggling and I got him ready to go and he was productive as ever."

Carnell had more to say on the topic, but essentially he said when you break it all down, it's really just football and not that complicated and it's the coaches job to make it simple for the players to get them ready. And so far he seems to be the only one on the defensive coaching staff that can coach up his guys quickly and keep it simple.

Why can't the rest of them?

Freaking Carnell Lake. He can play LB, S, CB, and now he can coach too. He can literally do everything. I'd personally put him on the fast track to take over for Lebeau. And heck probably even Tomlin one day. We'd probably win the SuperBowl every year if Lake was our HC.

With Lake producing nice results from mid round picks and low level free agents, it makes you wonder what the hell Ray Horton was doing. Also makes you wonder about young defensive lineman taken in the first and mid rounds not producing.

With Lake producing nice results from mid round picks and low level free agents, it makes you wonder what the hell Ray Horton was doing. Also makes you wonder about young defensive lineman taken in the first and mid rounds not producing.

makes me wonder why butler needs top end talent to to get the LB corps playing at its best amd as you said lake is getting mid rouund picks and making them into good players

makes me wonder why butler needs top end talent to to get the LB corps playing at its best amd as you said lake is getting mid rouund picks and making them into good players

i agree. lake over butler

I get the impression the DL is a genius. He's an Xs and Os guy with more experience than any DC ever. I think DL is also a great person. Very approachable and connects with these young men. I suspect Butler has been mentored into a similar mold.

But where I think the problem lies is their ability to translate these complex concepts into something simple that these young kids coming out of college can readily understand. Heck Troy who's one of the more cerebral players in the game had a hard time understanding the complexity of the system right away.

Then Carnell comes along and seem to take a different approach. And he says the system really isn't that complex. It's just football. So apparently he understands the system in this very simple way. And he says it's on him to bring these young kids up to speed quickly. He even used the example of he had to get Victorian ready in the system in 2 weeks time due to injury.

Maybe Carnell's smarter than all these guys combined because he can see the simplicity in the system and teach the simplicity. And I do think the system is complicated. And when Carnell was asked if Shmarko will play FS or SS, he said all Pittsburgh Ss play both positions based on the situation. Heck, I didn't even realize Troy and Clark both play FS and SS at different times until I heard that.

But somehow we're learning Carnell is breaking this stuff down in some simple way to make it easier for 1st year players to understand. And he's not even getting 1st round picks.

Maybe it's the fact that he played so many positions. Or he knows the Steelers from playing for the Steelers. Or he had a quick stint in college and understands what college kids need to transition to be successful.

Whatever it is, he's able to do something that no other coach seems to be able to do. Ovi's gotta have a man crush on Lake when he hears him confidently saying his first year guys will be ready to play and that's on Lake to make it happen.

I have been singing Carnell's praises as a coach for at least a year now. Just as in academia, some college professors are great researchers and some are great teachers. It is rare to have both in one person. Carnell is both a student of the game as well as a great teacher. His impact to the secondary was almost immediate and he has shown he can teach up just about anyone. It's one reason why i am keeping my eye on Van Dyke, the one guy that can keep up with Wallace, if he can learn the position. Steelers FO needs to be careful with poachers that might try to steal him away.